Can Psychiatrists Prescribe Medication? Understanding Their Role in Treatment

Dealing with mental health concerns sometimes involves more than talking to a therapist. For some, medication provides an effective way to manage a mental health disorder and reduce symptoms for improved mental well-being. 

If you’re considering taking medication for anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges, you might be wondering who can actually prescribe it. The short answer is that therapists and psychologists can’t prescribe medication, but psychiatry providers can. 

Here, we’ll take a closer look at these mental health professionals’ role in treatment. We’ll also explore different conditions that psychiatric medications can treat and common types of medications. 

Which mental health professionals can prescribe medication?

If you think you might need medication to help manage mental health concerns — or if your therapist has recommended them — you’ll need to see a psychiatry provider for a prescription and treatment plan. But there are several different types of psychiatry providers that you can see.

Psychiatrists 

Psychiatrists are mental health practitioners who also have a doctoral degree in medicine. As medical doctors who specialize in mental health, they can prescribe medications for a wide range of psychiatric conditions. 

They also help clients manage medication, evaluating how well it works and adjusting dosages or changing medication types as needed. 

Some psychiatrists offer psychotherapy (or talk therapy) in addition to medication to treat mental health conditions. Those who don’t may refer clients to therapists or psychologists instead. 

Psychiatric nurse practitioners (APRNs)

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with specialized training in psychiatry are also licensed to prescribe medications. But in some states, APRNs need to work with a supervising physician or psychiatrist in order to prescribe medication. In other states, they can prescribe medication without this collaboration. 

APRNs offer medication management as well, monitoring and adjusting medication types and dosages as needed. They may also provide therapy or counseling services. 

Primary care physicians and physician assistants 

Your regular doctor may be able to prescribe medication for mental health conditions. Primary care physicians (PCPs) and physician assistants (PAs) don’t specialize in mental health care — but they can prescribe psychiatric medications in some cases. 

They often work in collaboration with a mental health professional, such as a therapist or psychologist. If therapy alone isn’t effective, mental health providers might recommend adding medication to a client’s treatment plan. 

For example, a therapist might recommend medication for a client with depression. But since they’re unable to prescribe it, they can consult with the client’s primary doctor, who then writes up a prescription for an antidepressant. 

What conditions can psychiatrists prescribe medication for?

Psychiatry providers can prescribe medication for many mental health conditions. In mild or moderate cases, medication may be useful to help ease symptoms. In other cases, individuals may require medication to manage more severe or complex mental health disorders. 

Some of the common mental health conditions that psychiatry providers prescribe medication for include:

• Depression: Depressive disorders cause frequent or persistent feelings of hopelessness and sadness. 
• Anxiety: Anxiety disorders cause intense, fearful emotions, thoughts, and responses to certain situations or triggers. 
• Bipolar disorder: This mood disorder may cause manic episodes with or without depressive episodes. 
• Schizophrenia: This severe psychiatric disorder may cause delusions and other kinds of disconnections from reality, along with other symptoms.  
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): This disorder makes it difficult to maintain focus, stay organized, manage behavior, and regulate emotions. 

4 common types of psychiatric medications

Roughly one in six adults in the U.S. takes medication for a mental health condition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Studies have shown that medication offers effective treatment of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. 

Below, we’ll go over some of the most common types of medications that psychiatry providers prescribe. 

1. Antidepressants/Anti-Anxiety Medications 

These medications are often used to treat mood disorders, such as depression, as well as anxiety disorders. They boost levels of certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, which may help ease symptoms. 

Different kinds of antidepressants are available, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). 

SSRIs help increase levels of serotonin — a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood. SNRIs help increase levels of serotonin and norepinephrine — a neurotransmitter that helps with stress response. 

2. Mood stabilizers 

Psychiatry providers may prescribe mood stabilizers to treat bipolar disorder and other conditions that may cause extreme mood swings, such as severe depression or schizoaffective disorder. 

These medications help prevent episodes of mania or depression and control severe mood swings. They affect brain receptors that help regulate neurotransmitters, resulting in more stable moods. 

A few types of mood stabilizers are available, including lithium, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants. Lithium affects the central nervous system, helping to prevent manic episodes. 

Anticonvulsants help reduce excitability in the brain, resulting in more stable moods. Some are more effective for preventing manic episodes. Others are more helpful for treating depressive symptoms.  

3. Antipsychotic medications 

Antipsychotic medications are used to treat mental health conditions that involve psychosis, such as schizophrenia and severe mood disorders. As mentioned before, they’re also sometimes used as mood stabilizers for those with bipolar disorder or other conditions. 

These medications help reduce hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking in different ways, depending on the medication type. 

First-generation antipsychotics block dopamine receptors. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with mood, attention, brain function, and other functions. Blocking these receptors helps reduce certain brain activity, easing symptoms. 

Second-generation antipsychotics block certain dopamine receptors and serotonin receptors and activate others to reduce symptoms. 

4. ADHD Medications 

Psychiatry providers sometimes prescribe medication for conditions like ADHD that affect focus and attention. There are a number of different types of ADHD medications that can help improve focus and attention in people that are experiencing ADHD.

Do psychiatry providers prescribe medication on the first visit?

Psychiatry providers conduct a thorough assessment of each patient in order to give an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. So they may or may not prescribe medication on the first visit, depending on the individual provider’s practice and the complexity of the patient’s case.

If they can confidently make a diagnosis at the first appointment, then they may go ahead and prescribe medication. Factors like patient safety and how severely the condition impacts their day-to-day life may also come into play.

Connect with a psychiatry provider with SonderMind 

If you’re seeking care for a mental health condition and want to explore medication options, a psychiatry provider may help. These providers can determine the right type of medication needed to help effectively manage or treat your condition. 

You might also be able to go through therapy with your provider — or they may refer you to a mental healthcare professional who offers psychotherapy services. 

Not sure where to find the right mental health services? SonderMind can connect you with a psychiatry provider who fits your preferences, needs, and offers the services you’re looking for.

Get started with SonderMind today to improve your mental well-being and quality of life!